Crowds at merchandise stands offering reasonably priced $20 shirts, brisk $4 beer sales and lines surrounding some of Kid Rock’s car collection and Harley-Davidson motorcycle displays made this much, much more than a concert.

There was even a temporary tattoo parlor sponsor by Jim Beam; this show had it all in addition to an action-packed setlist full of Kid Rock classics.

"Now I know there's a few people in there - there's gotta be - that are like, 'Well let's see, (expletive), it's $20 (for a ticket), let's go see what the hell this is all about. Let's go see all this hype around (inaudible). I mean, he's got some good songs, some very nice songs; I like "Born Free," "All Summer Long," and "Picture."' ...

They don't know what they are in for. Do they? They don't need a sitter; we'll take the kids. So for those of you newbies, we're just going to kinda work you in slowly. I don't want to freak you out right at the top of the show, alright? The first time seeing Kid Rock and The Twisted Brown Trucker Band (inaudible). ... But no, seriously, I'm just going to kinda ease you into this."

And with that, Kid Rock belted the first lines of his song "You've Never Met a Mother(bleeper) Quite Like Me," prompting an eruption of cheers.

The whole night was a rowdy one that had plenty of pyrotechnics, rap-rock-country hybrid harmony from the eight-piece band, and even some old motorcycle stunt clips from the late Evil Knievel - choreographed to Kid Rock's "American Badass."

Knievel's highlights were first previewed by the following motivational quote, apparently from former President Theodore Roosevelt, that the high-profile risk taker liked to give publicly. Knievel died in 2007.

The quote displayed on the big screen that got a charge out of the crowd:

"It is better to take a chance in life to win a victory or suffer defeat even though scarred by failure ... than to live in the shadow of life as some do never knowing a victory or defeat because they have not the guts to try either!"

This saying fits with Kid Rock's mission this summer to give fans affordable entertainment at 34 shows across the U.S.

He's clearly taking a risk because it's unclear if he'll make money on the $20 tickets, $4 beers and discounted merchandise.

But he seemed to perform Friday night like he could care less about possibly taking a huge financial loss.

At one point, Kid Rock even appeared choked up as he looked into the crowd during a break in the song "Celebrate."

"C'mon," he said, shaking his head with smile. "Let's rock n' roll a bit together."

Fans certainly did plenty of that - from the reserved seats all the way out to the jam-packed lawn.

The concert scene was as raucous as any I've ever witnessed at any venue in the entire state. Most of the lawn filled up before 8 p.m.; Kid Rock went on at about 9:15.

This self-proclaimed "American Badass" clearly appreciated the invaluable love and respect from his supporters, including those who remember him as a struggling rapper in the early 90s.

If Friday night was any indication, expect thousands of more fans to claim they had their "Best Night Ever" as the series of DTE shows now prepares for seven more in 11 days.

Check out below some of the best fan photos from the first show and the setlist. Share your thoughts in MLive Detroit's comments section.

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